Beer Reviews

As I write this review I have two Bishops Fingers downstairs in the fridge slowly awaiting my consumption. There is an obvious joke in there but it is "pointless" when beer is the matter at hand.

This is on old favourite of mine and one I used to drink quite often, both on cask and from the bottle, though naturally I feel I should refresh my taste buds on how it feels. I also thought it would be quite fun to write a first-person, up to the second review of the beer as I am drinking it and save the other one to relax with for later.

*History of Shepherds Neame*

While the beer is chilling let me fill you in on the history of this beer and its brewery Shepherds Neame, Britain's oldest brewery. The brewery is located in Faversham, Kent, dating back to 1698 (though it wasn't called Shepherds Neame at the time) and was first founded by Capt Richard Marsh, God bless his soul, who used the Town's natural well to create some mighty fine ales.

After the death of Capt Marsh, the ownership of the brewery eventually passed to Samuel Shepherd. With his sons help he continued to brew beer and started to buy pubs in which to serve it in, some of them still in operation today (I feel a tour coming on).

The company passed down a few times and changed names until 1864 in which it was given the name Shepherd's Neame. From here the company grew and grew and today they own more than 360 pubs in the UK, and it is a damn shame none of them are in my area.

*History Bishops Finger*

Of the extensive range of beers which they offer none is more popular and well known as Bishops Finger and Spitfire, incidentally both are given there very own website as links on the breweries home webpage these beers are that big. Of the two it is Bishops Finger that is the flagship of the brewery, first brewed in 1958 and clocking in at a lofty 5.4% it is a strong example of a fine traditional English pint.

It is made entirely by using products of Kent (Kent also known as the garden of England) and brewed using water from the previously mentioned artesian well and locally grown Golding hops and barley malt from Denne Hill Farm.

The name Bishops Finger relates to the sign posting around Kent, as it says on their website: "Bishops fingers were found only in Kent because they were fingerposts sited along the Pilgrims Way to show the pilgrims the route to Thomas Becket's shrine in Canterbury Cathedral before it was destroyed by Henry VIII in the 16th century,"
so that clears that up.

Anyway that is enough of that nonsense lets get drinking.

*The Bottle*

Ok so I have been downstairs and I have this beer in front of me the bottle alone is something to admire, a nice fat chunky bottle with the familiar purple label, which I feel is somewhat apt, though I can't put my finger on why. The colour through the bottle is very dark red, but I don't want to sit here yapping away letting it warm-up I want to savour the thing. So here goes.

*The opening of the beer The smell*

Before I open the bottle I want to draw your attention to a quotation from a fan of the beer:

"Yes, the taste is perfect. However, immediately smelling the vapour from a freshly opened bottle is heaven. Be quick, the smell for those first two or three seconds is of beer at its absolute best."

So this is exactly what I intend to do before I pour this ale into a perfectly traditional old English pint glass, I am going to get my nose in and sniff away.

Oh, man that is good. It is sooooo sweet and tangy; it goes right up your nose and fills the room, literally! some of it went up my left nostril by mistake. The smell of it brings back memories of the pub I used to drink it in when they regularly had it on as guest. Those were happy times of freedom and beer.

*The Look*

I have poured the dark amber nectar into the glass and the head is fizzing up typical of a beer from the bottle, it doesn't have that smoothness you get from the cask, but nevertheless you can't be at the pub every night (can you?) It is dark red but not as red as it appears from outside of the bottle or as dark as I remember it. It has the appearance of a very traditional British ale. I am seriously dying for a taste of it, let's go.

*The Mouth-Feel*

Upon entry to the mouth this monster of a beer seeks to run around in all directions like a bull in a fine crockery shop. The taste floods everywhere, exploding away in your palate, leaving behind deep rich and nutty notes, - this beer is exquisitely yummy.

*The After-Taste*

The after-taste is long and strong on the palate, very hoppy with a bitter-sweet complex finish. It keeps you going back for more and more and each time you are equally satisfied. It is a beer to savour and enjoy, not one to throw down your neck without regard. This beer talks to you, (not literally) and it makes you sit down and listen, to comprehend.

*Drinkability*

I think this fan of the beer sums it up brilliantly:

Bishops Finger is real decent ale. From first gulp to last swallow it always pleases and delights. It invites you to sit down and relax,and gently encourages you to take another pint. Not a session beer at all, but a pint to enjoy. Master Brew is a session beer - something clean to throw down your neck; Bishops Finger is one to study.

The brewers themselves say that it has an "intense taste that is more challenging than other brands," it is not a session beer that is clear, it is a beer to enjoy as a one-off in a session, but enjoy it you will.

*With Food*

I confess that I have never tried it with food but one fan's comments (all fans comments available on the Shepherds Neame website just Google it) says it partners well with Stilton: "try it with a good Stilton and your taste buds will go berserk!" yes I can imagine it will.

*Overall*

I have been sipping away at this beer which is now half empty, (half full?) and it is still as tangy as when I first sipped at it. Although the appearance has begun to recede a little this doesn't affect its quality and taste of it.Overall it is a very fine beer and it is one in which I will drink more of over the cold winter months to use as a warmer, and one that I will sip and enjoy slowly. If you can get hold of this beer then do so, it is a perfect example of English strong ale, and one you will want to come back to time and time again